Kite racing explodes onto the scene at Crissy Field in San Francisco, CA, USA. Today was the official start of the North American Kite Racing Championships. Once again the St. Francis Yacht Club brings world class sailors together to compete at the highest level of Kite Course Racing in a spectacular destination. Kite Racing was born here at the St. Francis Yacht Club. It continues to thrive given the support of the community and energy from the racers descending on this amazing venue. Seventy Four registered racers start off day one in two fleets, yellow and blue with ten racers being women. The overcast day didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits as all the racers jockey for setting expectations for the rest of the week. The top three in the yellow fleet came down to Johnny Heineken, Adam Koch, and Brian Kender. The top three in the blue fleet came down to Riccardo Leccese, Bryan Lake, and Tomek Janiak. First and Second in each fleet were consistent with Johnny and Riccardo getting bullets in all heats and second place being tied between Koch and Lake. The top three women on day one are Erika Heineken, Catherine Dufour and Nuria Goma. As always check the official results for accuracy and protest updates. The racers contended with regular boat traffic on the open race course. Tankers, pleasure boats, pilot boats and tourist ferries all played roles in quick decisions for the racers on the course. Yellow heat two started out with a huge tangle. Thankfully the race officials were swift in helping the downed kiters with no injuries. At one point the U.S.S Potomac steamed through the course and literally split the upwind port tack in half right after the start. The professionalism of all kiters led to clean racing despite all the moving obstacles. Going forward it is going to be some very tight racing with only 12 points separating the top ten racers after day one. Anything can happen. The new coarse layout gets huge approval from racers and spectators alike. It’s a two lap course with a reaching finish right to the beach. Great for racing, and beach spectators get prime viewing of the entire course and especially the finish. If you’re in the area, you are definitely going to want to come down and view the action. If you can’t make it, the St. Francis Yacht Club has lined up some great media coverage. See the links below for all the up to the minute updates. A huge thanks goes out to all the officials and volunteers involved. Stay tuned for more action on June 5th!

Was there for a quick session after OB on Monday and came back today after sherman to watch again. Will probably be there tomorrow to watch it and land/launch people. Those long race are soooo fun. I mean I like the cabrinha series, but this format is REALLY fun to watch from the beach.

The second day of racing for the North American Kite Racing Championships continues at Crissy Field in San Francisco, CA, USA. The two fleets, Yellow and Blue get changed up for closer racing throughout the fleets. The clouds pulled back to reveal an idyllic day on the water for the racers. Yesterday’s results changed up a bit for today with the overall results still awaiting some protests. As it stands now, Johnny Heineken has a one point lead over Riccardo Leccese. Johnny took three bullets, getting upset in one heat by Adam Koch. Adam was on fire in his first heat. Adam and Johnny were neck and neck to a photo finish and Johnny exploded reaching to the line trying to gain back inches on Adam. Riccardo had some trouble in the second heat, taking fourth, but also getting trumped by Bryan Lake in another heat. The top six racers at the end of today are currently listed as Heineken, Leccese, Lake, Koch, Kender and Pasquali. Five of the top six racers being local regulars. The women also had a change up since yesterday. Erika Heineken consistently pulls out four more strong races to maintain her first position, looking solid all day. Nuria Goma has a fantastic fourth heat and gains an overall position from third to second on Catherine Dufour. The race committee headed by Robbie Dean is pulling some impressive timing for all the racers. Getting in four heats a day for two fleets takes lots of coordination. The new course layout helps racers on and off the beach. The timing between races is only five to ten minutes. This leads to great racing action all day long. Locals and tourists alike are asking about the races up and down the beach. If you’re in the area, you are definitely going to want to come down and view the action. If you can’t make it, the St. Francis Yacht Club has lined up some great media coverage. See the links below for all the up to the minute updates. A huge thanks goes out to all the officials and volunteers involved. Stay tuned for more action on June 5th!

You want excitement? Get out of your chair, office, car, and get down to Crissy Field. The St. Francis Yacht club is hosting the North American Kite Racing Championships and today the action ramps up. The last two days have been qualifier heats. Today the seventy five racer fleet gets turned into a gold and silver fleet. The best kite coarse racers in the world are going head to head in San Francisco’s back yard. You want action? Thirty mile an hour closing speeds going upwind. Thirty five plus miles an hour downwind speeds. Kites the size of your SUV are being flown with precision while the riders rocket along on race boards with three 41 cm fins that will cut your steak better than most high end steak knives. Thirty plus kiters vie for the start line all at once for an absolutely impressive site that boggles the mind. How do they not tangle? It is truly a site to be seen. The racers start off rocketing towards the St. Francis Yacht Club and Crissy Field for a first hand spectator view of the best kite racing action on the planet. The top riders in the world are here. Now. In your back yard. The world Champion Johnny Heineken from San Francisco, CA, races against the likes of Riccardo Lecesse from Columbia, Bryan Lake from Fairfax, CA, Adam Koch from Bellevue, WA, Brian Kender from Westfield, NJ, Joey Pasquali from Sausalito, CA, Blazej Ozog from Poland, Tomek Janiak from Poland, and many others locally and from around the world. This is truly a race of super talented athletes competing in an amazing test of skill, stamina, determination and strategy. Today the gold fleet blasts into action with four heats for the day. All racers carry over their qualifying standings and add their results for the day to an overall current score. Bryan Lake starts off the day by taking the first Golden Bullet, winning the first heat over Heineken, Koch, and Ozog. Lake continues his run taking first in the second heat over Riccardo Leccese, Adam Koch, Ozog, and Brian Kender. Johnny gets his head in the game and blasts back, absolutely flying to take the next two heats. Super close racing from start to finish around a course laid out by John Craig who is the Principal Race Officer for this event as well as the America’s Cup. You think this is a men’s sport? Think again. The current female world champion Erika Heineken from San Francisco, CA, races solidly in the gold fleet and is currently winning the women’s fleet. Nuria Goma from Barcelona, Spain, and Catherine Dufour from Quebec, Canada round out the top three for the women. All three are contending with the top half of the entire fleet.The racing today comes right to your doorstep at the beach and St. Francis Yacht Club. It can easily be seen from shore. You can stroll along Crissy Field and gawk at the athleticism on the water. The near misses, kite tangles, wipeouts, overtakes, and incredible racing is here for you.All of this is put on by the race office at the St. Francis Yacht Club headed up by Race Director Robbie Dean who is supported by an amazing team of individuals committed to providing the best racing possible. All the volunteers make this event happen, including boat officials, judges, coordinators, media, family, friends, and the local community. The amount of love being poured forth to promote this world class event is truly inspiring. If you’re in the area, you are definitely going to want to come down and view the action. If you can’t make it, the St. Francis Yacht Club has lined up some great media coverage. See the links below for all the up to the minute updates. A huge thanks goes out to all the officials and volunteers involved. Stay tuned for the finals on June 7th starting at 1pm!

I saw the first race of the gold fleet today... Damn!Massive tangle at the start, close race between adam/johny/bryan and a REALLY close finish between Bryan and Johny. Couldn't even tell from the beach who won!I've been going everyday this week at Crissy to ride/see the races and it's been a blast!Wish I could go tomorrow but I won't be able too.